This chapter has been edited due to content. If you want to see the unedited version GO HERE.
JASH
“I have rights.” A woman yelled in a vain attempt to appear like a threat.
I’m sure the blonde middle aged woman with her glare could scare most people into doing what she wanted them to. But I had faced Alduin, the Dark Presence, and other horrors. So an angry woman who couldn’t leave the slightest wound on my scales did not intimidate me.
“Are you listening?” The woman snapped and looked at my name tag. “JC?”
“Jash Casey.” I replied and managed to keep the amusement from my voice.
“Well, Jash, I shouldn’t have to wear a mask to buy a hot dog!”
I looked at the small line that was forming on the corner behind the woman. Her outburst was doing more for my business than any amount of promotion could. I hoped that those caught up in the line would be guilted into buying from me.
Earlier in the year Covid-19 had spread across the world. Peryite would have adored the angry woman as she was helping to spread the disease. But I did not have such a mindset and was disturbed by the controversy in the country I currently lived. The commoners here thought of the disease as a way to show which side of the political isle they sat on.
The people of Skyrim had been unable to forgo their war in order to defeat Alduin easily. So I guess mortals were foolish no matter the reality.
As no other Saxhleel lived on Earth, the Federal Bureau of Control had had to do tests on me. With the Oldest House being sealed away near the end of last year, this was quite a task. But they knew as well as I that I had the potential to make the disease worse.
So I had allowed them to run tests on me to see if I could contract Covid-19 and spread it. After being made to feel like I was back with my Dunmer masters, they had declared me both immune and not able to be a carrier for the disease.
This meant while my dryskin illusion wore a mask, I did not.
“But you do, ma’am.” I said with a drawl as I pointed to the sign. “No mask. No service.”
“I hope you like one star reviews!” The woman said with as much venom as she could muster before walking away.
If she had seen the large grin on my face, she would have turned around and continued her tantrum. It felt good not to be worshiped or seen as anything but just another commoner. Just another person who had no grand future ahead of them. Once I returned to Nirn I would once again be forced into greatness. But for now I could just be a hot dog vendor.
The next customer wasn’t as rude as the woman but had just as much venom in his voice. I listened to the order and started to serve him.
“Is something wrong with my service?” I asked.
“Yeah, that.” He said and pointed to the pride flag on my stand. “What about the children that look at it? Ever think about that? You should be ashamed and take it down.”
“The kids that come here aren’t traumatized by it. I have it up so that my husband can be with me in spirit.”
“So you’re parading the fact you have a druggie sucking you off?”
“I’ll have to tell my husband that you called an FBI agent a druggie. I’m sure he’ll be very amused.”
The man shut up quickly after that and I finished his order in silence. He should have been more worried about having angered me. Alex would have choice words in private but I would murder him. If I hadn’t made a promise not to kill and eat people while on Earth, that is.
That wasn’t the only promise I had had to make in order to live with Alex on Earth.
I remembered my wedding day clearly. Endarie had been dearly missed by these eyes that day. But Alex and I had been dressed well enough for the small crowd. Saga had, of course, been invited as well as David and Logan. It was the perfect opportunity to tell her the truth about me. Unlike at Logan’s party, I could easily remove my illusion for her at my wedding.
The only thing that had stopped us was a promise made to the FBC. Two agents from the organization had tracked me down shortly after Logan’s party. At first they had asked kindly for me to keep my identity a secret from everyone but Alex. My husband only got an exception because he had seen what I really was.
That didn’t make me or Alex want to obey them. Me because I didn’t like following orders from people I didn’t respect and Alex because they weren’t the FBI.
But when the FBC threatened me with imprisonment, Alex caved quickly. Which forced me into agreeing with the FBC. While I had been angry at the moment, my love had a point. My second husband had given me much information about Earth but that didn’t translate into experience. So to escape capture and evade detection from the FBC might be a task I couldn’t handle.
And even if I had managed to take my freedom from the FBC’s clutches, Alex might still be in danger. If the organization had threatened me so quickly it meant they would have no qualms about harming my love in ways that wouldn’t leave visible scars.
What if they had gotten him kicked out of the FBI? That wouldn’t affect my ability to leave Earth with Alex, but it would have devastating effects for the war against the Dark Presence. Without Alex, it was uncertain that Saga would eventually make her way to Bright Falls.
Without Saga, Alan Wake would be unable to get out and the Dark Presence would have an easier time escaping its cage.
As I continued to serve my customers, a light rain started. The water was tinged with the slightest hint of cold.
“Thank you, JC.” A woman said with a polite nod. “Is something bothering you?”
“No,” I replied with a smile. “I just sense that fall is quickly approaching.”
“And here I was enjoying summer.”
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